van Gerwen Michael vs Joyce Ryan preview
Michael van Gerwen faces Ryan Joyce in the first round of the 2026 World Grand Prix on September 28, 2026, at 19:45 UTC. This opening match presents a significant challenge for Van Gerwen, who currently sits at number nine on the PDC rankings, his lowest position since 2012. The Dutchman, a six-time winner of this tournament, enters the event following a recent defeat to Daryl Gurney at the World Series of Darts Finals.
His opponent, Ryan Joyce, is a former semi-finalist at the World Grand Prix, having reached that stage of the competition two years ago. Joyce has also appeared in a European Tour final this year and is noted for his clinical ability to hit doubles, a skill that is particularly critical in this tournament’s unique double-in, double-out format. While Van Gerwen seeks to regain his form after a period of inconsistent results, including a recent exit at the World Series of Darts, Joyce arrives in Leicester looking to leverage his previous experience in this major event to progress to the second round.